At the police station…
The cops brought Susan in.
"Please wait here for questioning," the 1st officer said, "I'm Officer Colbert by the way. Officer Tindall will call you in momentarily."
Officer Tindall tried to push Monica out of the room.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave." Officer Tindall said.
"Please," Monica said, "let me stay. She's my friend and she needs someone there for her right now."
"I'm sorry, ma'am, it's out of my hands," Officer Tindall said.
"Tindall!" Colbert shouted, "let the woman stay, at least until the suspect is questioned."
"Thank you," Monica said.
The two women were left alone.
"Susan," Monica said, "please, tell me what happened. I can help."
"I told you before, Monica, stay out of it," Susan snapped, "I don't need your help!"
"I can't imagine all the pain you're going through right now, Susan," Monica said, "the boy that you've raised has done this terrible act of violence for no reason and—"
"There is a reason," Susan said, "Me."
"No," Monica said, "you can't blame yourself. Nothing that you did caused your son to behave in this cruel manner."
"You're right," Susan said, "it's what I didn't do. If I had been there when he was younger, when his father walked out on us, things might've been different. I didn't know how to handle it, Monica. I was so afraid. I didn't know where to turn. Jeremy idolized his father, and when he left, he didn't want me. I didn't know how to be a mother to him. I think that's what caused him to snap. He started drinking, getting into fights, I couldn't bear to see my baby like that, but I figured he needed to work through it on his own."
"What he needed was a mother," Monica said, "he needed to know he was loved. Maybe you couldn't do it then, but right now, you have another chance."
"What are you talking about?" Susan asked, "Love is weakness. I learned that a long time ago. Just when you think your family life is secure and stable, your husband runs out and you and you can't connect to your son. I wanted to love him, I just didn't know the right way. Besides, I thought he… killed himself?"
"No," Monica said, "He's alive, but in critical condition. God will help you learn to love through His strength. Love isn't weakness, love is strength. God is love and He loves you more than you can imagine. He wants you to love Him back and trust in Him. True love is patient, kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not cause dishonor to others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Real love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. You've needed to experience real love, and the love God has for you, for a long time, Susan. That's why you could never love properly. God has sent me here to show you the deepest love He has for you, and your son. No matter what, He loves you."
She started to glow.
"W-What's happening?" Susan quivered.
"Fear not, Susan," Monica said, "I am an angel. God has sent me to you to help restore what has been broken in your soul. He knows how often you cried yourself to sleep every night, having to deal with an abusive, alcoholic, father. He counts every tear. He's seen your most private moments and looks deep into your heart. He wants to wrap His arms around you, and comfort your spirit, Susan. But you need to make a place for Him in your heart. God knows you haven't been a perfect mother, He's not expecting you to be. He wants your heart, Susan. Will you give it to Him?"
"What about my son?" Susan sobbed.
"Your son will have to answer to the Almighty Lord for his crimes," Monica said, "but although God is just, He is also loving. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance. God wants you to share your love, and His love with your son. Will you do it?"
"Yes!" Susan sobbed.
"Then now is the time!" Monica said, as she embraced her with a hug.
"He's…not going to die, is he?" Susan stammered.
"I don't know how much time your son has left on this earth. God has not revealed that to me. But what I do know is that your precious boy is held at this very moment in God's hands. He is taking care of him. You don't have to be afraid, but trust in Him. Use this time to make peace."
"You're right." Susan said.
"Ms. Phillips?" an officer said, opening the door. "We're ready for you."
"Thank you." she responded as she followed them in. She turned as she stepped through the doorway. "And thank—"
As she looked back, Monica had disappeared.
Meanwhile at the hospital, Gloria sat with Robert.
He slowly awoke from his heavily sedated sleep, and as his eyes shifted into focus, he saw her sitting at his bedside.
"You don't…give up, do you?" he asked, grunting through the pain.
"I'm afraid not," Gloria said.
"It's almost as if I have some sort of guardian angel watching over me," Rob laughed at the idiocy of his statement, "it's funny, because I don't even believe in angels."
"Actually, Robert, that's exactly what you have." Gloria said.
"Excuse me?" Rob asked, as he cocked an eyebrow in bewilderment.
"Yes," Gloria said, "God sent me to you, and now's the right time for me to reveal the truth to you."
She started to glow.
"What's happening?" Rob asked, "they didn't tell me the medicine would have such bizarre side-effects."
"It's not a side-effect," Gloria said, "I really am an angel sent by God. I'm here to tell you the truth, that you can see with your own eyes. God is real, Robert, and He loves you. Your soul knows that, and I'm just here to rejuvenate the faith that you let go of long ago."
"You're right," Rob said, "I did let go of my faith. But I had to. I couldn't get higher on the corporate ladder if I always clinging to religion. I realized I could do things on my own. I didn't need some cosmic killjoy telling me how to run my life."
"God's not a killjoy." Gloria said, "He wants to offer the most fulfilled, abundant life possible, but you have to relinquish control of your life and give it to Him in complete surrender."
"I've never been one to throw in the towel that easily," Robert said.
The police sat Susan down for questioning.
"Ok, ma'am, this is how this is going to work," the head detective said, "I'm going to ask you a series of questions. The sooner you answer them, the sooner you can leave, capeesh?"
"Please, I don't want to tell you how to do your job, but please make this brief," Susan said, "My son is dying and I'd like to be there for him. I have some things I need to tell him.
"It'll all be over the sooner you cooperate." the detective said, "My name is Detective MacLeod, by the way, a pleasure to meet you. Answer yes or no to all questions, I will ask for elaboration if needed. Question 1: the suspect in question, Jeremy Phillips, is your biological son, correct?"
"Yes," Susan responded.
"Question 2: Was your son abused physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or sexually by you or any other member of his immediate family growing up?"
"No!" Susan said, "Of course not!"
"Question 3: Has there been a history of mental illness in your family, Ms. Phillips?"
"No Sir," Susan said.
"Question 4: have there been any changes in your family structure since your son's birth?" he asked.
"Jeremy's father walked out on us abruptly when Jeremy was only seven years old." Susan said, "My ex-husband never laid on hand on me or my son, but he always did like roughhousing. He was always picking fights with people and often let his anger get the best of him. Jeremy idolized his dad, and when he left, I think that pushed Jeremy over the edge. My ex-husband, Kurt, was always walking on the wild side; I think that's why Jeremy held him in such high esteem. Jeremy has a wild streak…that unfortunately turned into a psychotic streak."
"Have you come in contact with your ex-husband since he left?" the detective asked.
"No," Susan said, "Jeremy said he sent him a letter once, but I haven't seen him or heard from him since."
"Do you or your son still have the letter?"
"No," Susan said, "Jeremy hid it for months, then I found it and tore it up, never even having read it. "
"Last question: has your son had any criminal record, prior to this incident?" MacLeod asked.
"As a matter of fact," Susan said, "Jeremy did do a six month stay in juvenile hall for vandalizing his high school and attempting to blow it up. May I go visit my son now?"
"Yes, Mrs. Phillips," the officer said, "We'll escort you."
Back at the hospital, Amos appeared In Jeremy's hospital room. Jeremy was unconscious and hooked up to a breathing tube, but Amos went over and touched his head, allowing him to communicate with Jeremey's spirit.
"Who are you?" Jeremy asked.
"My name is Amos." Amos said, "I'm an angel, from God."
"God?" Jeremy asked, skeptical. "What, are you here to send me to Hell?"
"No," Amos said, "that's not for me to decide. You hurt a lot of people, Jeremy. Where did it get you? You're in a hospital now, unconscious. What was the point?"
"The point is I wanted to take out my pain on society!" Jeremy yelled, "My dad was always complaining about how the government was corrupt and always out to get him! Someone had to pay!"
"You may have felt abandoned by your earthly father, but your Heavenly Father loves you, despite the terrible choices you've made." Amos said.
"Don't you dare tell me God loves me!" Jeremey snapped, "Where was God when my dad walked out on us? Where was God when I got sent to juve for six months? "
"God was right there." Amos said. "God was always there. He was waiting for you to fall into His arms in surrender to Him, but you never did. You kept doing things your way. Now, look where it's gotten you."
"I'm gonna die aren't I?" Jeremy asked.
"I don't know that for sure," Amos said, "I suggest you take this time and talk it over with God."
Amos left.
Soon after, Susan came in.
"Jeremy, sweetie," she said, sitting next to his still unconscious body, "I don't know if you can hear me, but I want to tell you I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not having been there for you when you were younger. I'm sorry your dad left. I'm devastated by what you did, but I won't stop loving you, even if you get sent to prison for the rest of your life."
"M-Mom?" Jeremy asked, faintly, slowly opening his eyes.
"Oh Jeremy, I'm so sorry!" she said.
Meanwhile, Tess was pushing Robert's wheelchair out in the hallway.
"Sue?" he asked, as he saw her from the open door, "Susan?"
"Kurt?" she asked in bewilderment.
"No, it's Rob." Robert said, as Tess wheeled him in. "I'm Kurt's brother."
"What?" Susan asked. "Kurt never mentioned you. I never knew he had a brother."
"Brace yourself, babies." Tess said to her fellow angels.
"He does, or did, I'm sad to say." Robert said, "I took a new name. I didn't want to be associated with him. Kurt was always getting into to trouble."
"He did have a knack for that!" Susan said, "What did you mean by, 'did?'"
"About a year ago, Kurt tragically died of a drug overdose." Robert said, "The authorities chalked it up as a suicide, but I know foul play was involved."
"And how come I never heard anything of his death?" Susan asked.
"You did, Mom." Jeremy said, weakly, "The letter you burned was his last letter to me. I received his death notice about a week later, but I tore it up. You never saw it."
"Jeremy, how could you keep this from me?" Susan yelled.
"I knew how much Dad hurt you, and I didn't want you to be hurt anymore." Jeremy said.
"Oh, honey," Susan said, "I could've taken it!"
"Y'know something though," Rob said, "I think God has brought me into your lives for a reason. And yeah, I can hardly believe the words coming out of my own mouth, but now I see how God has been guiding our lives from the beginning. I mean, what are the chances Jeremy and I would be at the same hospital, especially after Jeremy was the one who put me in here in the first place? And what are the chances that his mother would work only blocks away from where I work? This had to be set up by God."
"You may have a point," Susan said.
"You guys are crazy!" Jeremy said.
"No," Susan said, "This may be difficult to believe, but…I met an angel today, one from Heaven."
"So did I." Rob said. "Turns out she was working with me all the time and I didn't know it until later."
"Same here!" Susan said, "God certainly does move in mysterious ways."
"I was visited by an angel too." Jeremy said. "He told me that God loves me."
"It's true," came a voice.
Monica, Tess, Gloria, and Amos were surrounding them and glowing.
"God loves each and every one of you." Monica said, "Despite if you doubt his existence, commit atrocities, or just put work ahead of Him and family, God knows your mistakes, yet He still loves you."
"God wants a relationship with everyone," Gloria said, "you just have to open your heart to Him."
"It's too late for me," Jeremy said, "just let me die and burn in Hell."
"It's never too late, Jeremy!" Amos said, "You could've killed millions of people, yet God would still love you."
"His love doesn't mean he accepts or condones your actions, baby," Tess said, "It's just that He loves you despite your sinful actions. God is merciful and if you're willing to repent and turn to Him, He can change your heart."
"Y'know what, I'm ready to give my life over to God," Robert said, "I've realized I can't do life on my own anymore. It's not working. I need some…heavenly support."
"What about you, Susan?" Monica asked.
"Well, I've been a terrible mother to Jeremy and should've seen the signs with my ex-husband before it was too late." Sue said, "I don't know if I'm ready to give my life over to God just yet, but I will consider it. I'll go to church this Sunday."
"And you, baby?" Tess asked Jeremy.
"No, God can't forgive me."
"God is always willing to extend forgiveness to those who ask, Jeremy!" Amos said. "You just have to accept it."
"Jeremy, sometimes God can feel distant and unreachable," Monica said, "but the truth is God is right here, just waiting for you to fall into His arms."
"Alright," Jeremy said, "but first let me speak to my Mom,"
"What is it, sweetheart?" she asked, stroking his forehead.
"I'm sorry, Mom," he said, "you're always gonna have people hate you because of me. I'm a disgrace. At least I know now that God will forgive me. I'm a terrible person, but I know I…need Christ now!"
With that, he flatlined, as his mom sobbed over his lifeless body.
"I'm glad you chose to become a Child of God." Amos said to Jeremy's spirit form.
"Yeah, well I'll have a lot to answer for when I meet Him." Jeremy said.
"Shall we go?" Amos asked, as he opened a door with white light beaming out. As Amos and Jeremy walked into Paradise, Robert comforted Susan. Tess, Gloria, and Monica walked away.
"This just goes to show no one is ever too far from the grace of God, doesn't it, Tess?" Monica asked.
"That's right, baby," Tess said, "even though we angels don't understand it, God's grace is available to all no matter what they've done."
"Hey!" Gloria said, "Shouldn't we put on our dancing shoes? A new believer just came to faith in Christ, several in fact!"
"You're right, baby, let's party!" Tess said.
"Though it's not going to be easy for Susan, is it?" Gloria asked.
"No," Monica said, "but I have a feeling Robert will help her out from this point on."
"I guess this bracelet doesn't mean much, does it?" Gloria asked, holding up the 'YOLO' bracelet.
"No, baby, it doesn't." Tess said, throwing it away, "not when you have eternity!"
Robert put his arm on Susan's shoulder. A dove flew overhead, as the angels danced.
The End